United Way Oxford Launches Local Love Week

Friday, 6 March 2026 06:23

The campaign is supporting the Ontario Student Nutrition program this year.

OXFORD - United Way Oxford's Local Love Week is officially underway!

This year's theme is Feeding Kids and Building Connections, so the campaign will be supporting the Ontario Student Nutrition Program.

It's located in all of the schools across the county and each school providing their own program with a group of volunteers. Some schools offer snacks with two food groups, while others offer meals with three food groups.

Megan Porter, the Resource Development Coordinator for United Way Oxford, says the schools do receive funding to run this program, but it's simply not enough.

"The maximum amount of funding they can receive is 24 cents per day, per child. That does not adequately feed children in school because the cost of a snack per child, per day is $1.50."

That's why United Way Oxford provides funding to keep these programs running. It helped provide 2,260,563 meals and snacks to 13,610 students across Oxford County last year alone. The program is also very inclusive because all students have access to it.

You can donate to the Ontario Student Nutrition Program year-round, but Porter says something extra special will happen if you do so this week.

"We are partnering with Adams Building Supply. So Jamie and his team have very generously, for the second year in a row, offered to match all monetary donations up to $5,000."

Jamie Adams, the owner of Adams Building Supply, says they're happy to support this great cause.

"It's a community program and we're a community based business right here in Woodstock and Oxford County. It's such an important thing for us to support and we're so proud to be on board with it."

Online donations have to be made through the Local Love Week page on the United Way Oxford website in order to be doubled. Those looking to support the cause can also visit the Adams Building Supply location on Parkinson Road in Woodstock to donate in person.

Other local businesses have also stepped up to support Local Love Week. Whisk and Roll Bakery in Woodstock is donating $2 whenever you purchase six cookies, Boston Pizza Woodstock is donating $1 from every order of mozzarella sticks, and Special Occasion Cakes in Tillsonburg is donating $2 whenever someone buys six cupcakes from March 10th to March 13th. Upper Thames Brewing Company will also bring back its Local Love Beer on March 10th and donate 50 cents from every can sold.

Megan Porter and Jamie Adam stopped by the Heart FM studio to chat with Dan and Marcie on Thursday, March 5th. You can listen to the full interview below: